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THN.com Playoff Blog: Laughs and last gasps

Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final was easily the best game of the series, thanks mostly to Sidney Crosby’s offensive heroics and Marc-Andre Fleury’s prowess in the Penguins net.

Sure, the Pens hung on for dear life in the third period – and I still believe Detroit will make the most of their home ice advantage to win it all – but it was tremendous to see Pittsburgh not roll over and expire like many expected them to.

• U.S. veiwers, unfortunately, didn't get to see it, but the ceremonial puck drop that took place in honor of Scotty Bowman was highly entertaining.

For those who missed it, the legendary coach strode out onto the red carpet, turned quickly to drop the puck between Crosby and Nicklas Lidstrom, and was halfway back to the bench by the time Penguins P.A. address announcer John Barbaro finally said his name.

For a second, I thought I was watching it on time-lapse camera, a la Benny Hill. But it was all business for Bowman, which is quite apt given the similar philosophy that marked his career behind the bench.

• So Mats Sundin is exploring “options” other than re-signing with Toronto, eh? What a hoot that is.

If the Leafs captain thought his name was dragged through the mud when he refused to waive his no-trade clause this past spring – ostensibly, because of his undying love for the franchise – he’ll look back on that time fondly compared to the endless fury he’s bound to face if he signs with another team.

As well, for Sundin to imply the direction the franchise is heading in will affect his decision is absolutely hilarious. He could’ve greatly aided Toronto’s direction by agreeing to be traded, then returning this summer. But he selfishly stuck to his guns – and because of that, the Leafs have a slimmer shot at contending for a playoff spot.

There’s probably only one person with connections to the city who would love to see Sundin in another NHL jersey. And that person is Vince Carter, who’d no longer be the most reviled ex-Toronto athlete.

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It’s been another tough road back from a concussion, but Clarke MacArthur is inching closer to his return. Senators coach Guy Boucher confirmed MacArthur can take contact and said the 31-year-old looks better every day.

Just days ago Clarke MacArthur said he was targeting a return to the Ottawa Senators’ lineup in roughly one month, and he has taken a big step towards that goal by getting the go-ahead to resume contact in practices.

Ahead of Wednesday’s game against the San Jose Sharks, Senators coach Guy Boucher announced that MacArthur, 31, has been given the green light to start giving and receiving bodychecks in practice, and Boucher said Ottawa can’t wait to have the veteran winger back in the lineup.

“He’s such a big part of our team that it will obviously change a lot of what we do, power play, 5-on-5, penalty kill and leadership-wise,” Boucher said, via TSN 1200.

MacArthur has been on the shelf since the start of the season after suffering a concussion during a training camp scrimmage, which made for the fourth head injury he has had to deal with less than two years. Making matters all the more heartbreaking, though, was that the injury came as MacArthur was attempting to make his comeback to the lineup after missing all but four games in 2015-16 due to a concussion that was bad enough he had thoughts of retirement.

Despite the recent concussion, though, MacArthur said he intended on getting healthy and contributing to the team this season, and told the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch that one of the main reasons he wanted to get back to action was to fulfill his contract. The four games he played during the 2015-16 season have been his only action on his current five-year, $23.25-million deal. He signed the deal in August 2014.

There are positive signs for MacArthur beyond being cleared for contact, too. Boucher said Wednesday that MacArthur has looked better every day in both his physical capabilities and his demeanor. Boucher added it feels as if MacArthur could be cleared for his return any day.

“He looks so good out there, and he’s looked so good for a while now, but it’s really being smart and taking the right steps,” Boucher said. “Health is first…Now it’s just a matter of time before we get the OK, but we’re going to wait until it’s the right and we’re told that this is the right time in his mind, right time medically and the right time physically.”

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At least two teams are reportedly interested in acquiring the Sedins for their full cap hit and Canucks veterans could draw interest at the trade deadline. The Kings are looking to clear cap space by moving out Teddy Purcell.

The ongoing struggles of the Vancouver Canucks this season generated some speculation over possible roster moves.

By late-November, The Province's Jason Botchford suggested the Canucks could get an early start on deciding which players to move by the March 1 trade deadline. He felt veterans such as Ryan Miller, Alex Edler, Alexandre Burrows and perhaps even Daniel and Henrik Sedin could be on the move.

Botchford said he knows of two teams that would be willing to acquire the Sedins for their full combined salary-cap hit of $14 million. If the Canucks were to pick up part of that cap hit (which runs through 2017-18), he thinks more clubs would be interested.

The sticking point, of course, is the Sedins' willingness to be traded. So far, they've given no indication that they want out of Vancouver. As Botchford points out, such a move would likely have to take place in the off-season.

Even if the Canucks put the Sedins on the block, they're unlikely to fetch a significant return. While they're still putting up solid numbers (17 points in 26 games), the 36-year-old twins are well past their prime. Teams aren't going to give up a lot for a couple of fading stars. Picks and prospects, sure, but nothing that would immediately reverse the Canucks' fortunes.

As for Miller, he and Canucks management could be willing to work out a contract extension. Botchford's collegue Ben Kuzma doubts the Canucks place the 36-year-old goalie on the block by the trade deadline.

Kuzma notes Miller's stats aren't great this season. However, he feels he'll still be a good fit with Jacob Markstrom, buying some time until promising goalie prospect Thatcher Demko is ready to move up. He wonders if Miller might be agreeable to a two- or three-year deal worth between $4-$4.5 million per season. That's a significant pay cut from Miller's current $6-million annual salary.

Considering Miller's no longer an elite goaltender, he probably won't get much better than that on the open market. He could test next summer's free-agent market, but will likely find few decent offers. He could prefer to avoid uncertainty over his future by staying in Vancouver for a reasonable contract.

KINGS TRYING TO FREE SPACE WITH PURCELL MOVE

Los Angeles Kings left wing Teddy Purcell cleared waivers over the weekend. Signed as a free agent last summer to a one-year, $1.6-million contract, the 31-year-old managed only two points in 12 games this season. Illness and a lower-body injury sidelined him in October, and he was a healthy scratch in the Kings' last four games.

With 21 of 30 NHL teams carrying $2 million or less in cap space, moving Purcell's cap hit is difficult right now. The Kings obviously want to shed his salary without taking any back in a deal. They could be waiting until later in the season to find the right deal.

Rumor Roundup appears regularly only on thehockeynews.com. Lyle Richardson has been an NHL commentator since 1998 on his website, spectorshockey.net, and is a contributing writer for Eishockey News and The Guardian (P.E.I.).For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

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Ryan Spooner’s offensive struggles in Boston have seen his name pop up repeatedly in trade speculation, and the same goes for Jimmy Hayes. Meanwhile, the Canucks seem more than willing to wait on Jake Virtanen’s development.

Boston Bruins winger Ryan Spooner is popping up more frequently of late in the NHL rumor mill. His name first surfaced in late October, when Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Bruins could listen to offers, though he doubted they were shopping him.

Coming off a 49-point performance in 2015-16, the 24-year-old Spooner's managed only nine points in 25 games. Some observers feel his struggles are tied to be played out of position, as he's a center converted to skating at left wing. He's bounced around the Bruins lineup this season.

Given Spooner's ongoing offensive difficulties and his recent demotion to the fourth line, the trade chatter intensified in recent days. On Saturday, Friedman's colleague Nick Kypreos suggested it could make sense for the Bruins to trade the winger to the Vancouver Canucks. He pointed out Spooner worked well on the power play last season with Loui Eriksson, who's now a Canuck.

Haggerty claims the Bruins' asking price is a top-six forward, marking a change from earlier speculation suggesting they could seek a top-four defenseman. They'll obviously have to package him with another player, prospect or draft pick to land either type of return.

It's unsurprising the Hurricanes, Isles and Sharks could be interested in Spooner. All three are among the league's lowest-scoring clubs. Factor in his $950K cap hit, and he'd be a bargain pickup for any club seeking an affordable forward with scoring potential.

Those clubs, however, don't have much to offer up in terms of top-six forwards. The Bruins could look at Elias Lindholm, but the Canes are unlikely to move him.

Perhaps the Isles will consider parting ways with Ryan Strome, who's stock has declined since his 50-point performance in 2014-15. Earlier this season, there was talk the Sharks could shop Matt Nieto or Tommy Wingels, though neither can be considered top-six forward material.

BRUINS’ HAYES ALSO IN RUMOR MILL

Spooner might not be the only struggling forward the Bruins try to move this season. The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reports they wouldn't mind moving winger Jimmy Hayes, who's managed only one goal in 23 games this season.

Hayes, 27, will be tougher to move. He's signed through 2017-18 at an annual cap hit of $2.3 million, plus he's been a bust as a power forward.

Jason Botchford of The Province reports Virtanen at one point was linked to Sabres left wing Evander Kane. However, he cites Canucks colour commentator Dave Tomlinson telling TSN 1040 the club won't be acquiring Kane and won't trade Virtanen.

Bear in mind Friedman was merely guessing about who the Sabres were following in Utica, and Tomlinson wasn't singling out the Sportsnet analyst. The Kane-to-Vancouver trade talk died out about two weeks ago, largely over what was believed a high asking price by the Sabres. There are no specifics over what that was, but it's thought the Sabres wanted one of the Canucks' good young blueliners.

Virtanen's taking longer than expected to blossom into a full-time NHL player, but he still has plenty of time yet to develop. The Canucks seem willing to remain patient with him.

Rumor Roundup appears regularly only on thehockeynews.com. Lyle Richardson has been an NHL commentator since 1998 on his website, spectorshockey.net, and is a contributing writer for Eishockey News and The Guardian (P.E.I.).For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

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The Rangers started the season as one of the league’s hottest teams, but have come back down to earth lately. Getting back on track will be a bit harder without the services of Rick Nash for the next week.

Another year, another ailment for Rick Nash, but luckily for the New York Rangers winger this one won’t be keeping him out of the lineup long-term.

Nash, 32, was forced to the leave the Rangers’ loss to the New York Islanders early on Tuesday, suffering a lower-body ailment that put him out of the game, and an MRI on Wednesday revealed that Nash will be sidelined for somewhere in the neighborhood of one week due to a groin injury.

Considering Nash was forced out of action due to the injury, that he’ll miss only one week is about as good as the news could be. Most Rangers fans would have thought the worst when Nash was forced to leave the game, especially given he missed nearly a quarter of the 2015-16 campaign due to a knee injury.

Being out for a week would force Nash, currently third on the Rangers in scoring behind J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes with 18 points, to miss anywhere from four to six games, depending when he’s feeling fit to return to action. Only one of those games are divisional games, which is a slight bonus, but the set of games against the Chicago Blackhawks is certainly a pair the Rangers could use Nash for, and getting by the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets without Nash in the lineup is going to require someone else stepping up.

Nash is in the midst of quite the bounce back season, too. While it may be a far cry from his remarkable 2014-15 campaign in which he scored a career-best 42 goals to go along with 69 points, Nash has already potted 11 goals this season and, prior to his injury, was on pace for another 30-goal campaign.

Even if Nash reaches the 20-goal mark this season, though, it would be a step up from his past campaign. He managed only 15 goals and 36 points in 2015-16, making for the lowest full-season goal total of his career.

Nash isn’t the only injury concern for the Rangers right now, however. New York will also be without Matt Puempel for the foreseeable future due to a concussion and Mika Zibanejad’s broken fibula will likely keep him out of action for at least another month, if not more.

The Rangers, who started the season as one of the league’s hottest teams, are just 4-5-1 in their past 10 games.